This weekend’s races: May 1-2
2010
Several good options for racing this weekend, with road races on Saturday and criteriums on Sunday.
Not far away in Indiana, the Fat & Skinny Tire Festival has a road race Saturday afternoon on a hilly, 8.8-mile course. The next day is a fast, oval criterium, and there’s a discount for racing both days.
Saturday’s Circuit of Sauk near Baraboo, Wis., is a long haul but I’ve always found it to be worth the trip. Each of its scenic, 15-mile laps throws two challenging climbs at us. They aren’t particularly long, but they are steep, especially for urban flatlanders such as ourselves, and they are more than capable of shattering fields and popping riders off the back. Crosswinds can also be pivotal. The first climb is harder because after a short reprieve the road continues to pitch upward. The second climb, on the other hand, is followed by a long, windy but safe descent that can give some riders a chance to catch back on if they’ve been dropped.
Two tips for these climbs: Switch to your small chainring before you start going up. Wait too long and you risk dropping your chain. Second, keep your head up and mind what the riders ahead of you are doing. Many will start to do the “paperboy weave” as they crack, and others will drift backward as they rise out of the saddle. This is not a time to worry about the draft. Find a lane and don’t let anyone disrupt your rhythm.
The final stretch to the finish line is longer than you think and has a false flat. The sprint will reward the patient.
Sunday’s Vernon Hills crit is a milelong, mostly flat circuit with gentle corners. It’s in an exposed park so wind can be a factor. Note that the Cat 5 field is filled via pre-registration. Also close to Chicago is an ABR criterium in Kenosha, Wis.
Saturday Fat & Skinny Tire Fest Circuit Race USAC road race Warsaw, Ind. Distance from Chicago: 2.5 hours Previous wrap-up: 2008
Circuit of Sauk USCF road race Baraboo, Wis. Distance from Chicago: 3.5 hours Previous wrap-ups: 2008, 2009
Sunday Vernon Hills Grand Prix USAC criterium Vernon Hills, Ill. Distance from Chicago: 1 hour Previous wrap-ups: 2008, 2009
Kenosha Business Park Criterium ABR criterium Kenosha, Wis. Distance from Chicago: 1 hour
Fat & Skinny Tire Fest Criterium USAC criterium Winona Lake, Ind. Distance from Chicago: 2.5 hours Previous wrap-up: 2008
Apr 27
2010
11:09 am
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Half Acre Cycling)
don’t forget that there are some mountain bike races nearby as well, one is part of the Fat & Skinny fest and the other is at Fort Custer in Augusta, MI!